What's in a name?
By
Lenn Pryor on July 13, 2005 in Developer Blog.
There has been some discussion in the Skype development community recently regarding when it is and is not appropriate to use the Skype Trademark in product names and URL's.
The first point to make here is that under the terms of the API Re-distribution terms, any use the the name 'Skype' is prohibited unless permission from Skype has been granted. The basic principle at work here is that the name is our trademark, our identity - and want to protect it from being used to sell products and services that we don't produce or support.
We think everyone can benefit from a little clarification of the what is and is not acceptable use of the Skype trademark to help you stay in compliance with our licensing terms.
So here's the deal...
* Websites which operate under a 'Skype' name to offer blogs, journals and other non-commercial content may continue to do so
assuming that the content of these sites remains non-offensive or damaging to our trademark and brand.
* Per clause 2.4 of the Skype API Re-distribution terms:
''2.4 You will not distribute the Application online through website(s) that is/are in any way similar to the Skype Website or use the Skype’s trademarks or words describing Skype’s products or services as the registered URL for website(s).''
This means any product which contains the word Skype as part of the product name is in violation of the terms and should be corrected immediately. Skype does and will continue to monitor compliance with these terms.
Comments
As the owner of skypeforum.com,skypetalk.com,and skypeware.com. Thanks for the clarification. One Question. You want developers to develop on your platform right? I will definately put my time any money elsewhere. Why would I want to create products to make your PLATFORM more valuable without being able to tie my product to your platform.
corporatecallcenter | Friday, Jul 15
A question that must be asked - does Skype want a developer community to enrich it's service and brand? I ask because at the moment I'm not convinced.
Websetters and many other companies have been developing extension products for platforms like the Microsoft suite of products and more often than not you see names such as WS:Repeat Calendar for Outlook (ours) or Redirect for Outlook (MAPI LAbs). Just two examples from many. This promotes the platform brand e.g. Outlook, while marketing the addins. I seem to have heard somewhere
that Microsoft have been fairly successful in supporting their developer community but as I believe you are ex-microsoft you would know that more than many.
A question of clarification please Len. Are you saying that any product with a title like WS:Unified Messager for Skype or WS:IVR Services for Skype is in violation of your distribution rules and should not be used?
I think that is what you are saying but not sure if that it what you mean.
Regards
Graeme
websetters | Friday, Jul 15
"Are you saying that any product with a title like WS:Unified Messager for Skype or WS:IVR Services for Skype is in violation of your distribution rules and should not be used?"
Product names like "XYZ for Skype" are aboslutely fine, so long as the word 'Skype' is not contracted directly into the product name as in Video4Skype.
mat.taylor | Tuesday, Jul 19
"Why would I want to create products to make your PLATFORM more valuable without being able to tie my product to your platform."
I am not sure I understand why you feel you cannot 'tie' your product to our platform. Indeed, to the contrary, we would actively encourage developers to tie their products to our platform. All we are asking is developers respect our trademarks, by not mis-appropriating the name Skype in product names.
Thanks,
mat
mat.taylor | Tuesday, Jul 19
It seemed amusing to me that on the same page as this article was a link in he featured extra for "Spontania Video4Skype" There is literally a policy note saying you can't name things this way next to a promotion from Skype for a product which doesn't follow their user agreement.
I know, this note was of very little valuable content, but it does point to an amusing contradiction.
Thanks for listening,
Justin
justinnewton | Thursday, Jul 21
"Spontania Video4Skype" ... they changed (had to?) their name: "Video4IM"; "SkypeSee" changed it's name to Wigiwigi (i think); and there are some others ...
Yes Skype is chasing the users of their name!
Will vSkype be the next one to change it's name?
aimqbvba | Thursday, Jul 28
from a user's perspective, a buddy of mine in holland said hey let's try vskype and I was psyched cuz I thought skype had rolled out this product. when it did not work anywhere near as well as the robust skype platform i was surprised cuz well becuz skype is very solid software in my experience (okay sometimes packets get lost but I blame that on the network...).
point being that i didn't realize that vskype was from another company for quite some time as i had assumed that they would not have been able to name it that way if they weren't skype. it's not anti-developer to protect your brand; it's common practice to keep things simple and clear for everyone...
jdsboston | Tuesday, Aug 9
OK, I developed application called "PSGw" which is acronym of "Personal Skype-to-H.323/SIP Gateway". Rignt now I use "PSGw" as official application name. Can I use "Personal Skype-to-H.323/SIP Gateway" as official application name?
rskvirsky | Wednesday, Aug 24